***A MALE ESCORT/BROTHERS BEST FRIEND ROMANCE***
Matt Quinn has been an escort for most of his adult life. He’s so good at his job that he’s booked months in advance. An enquiring email from a potential client finds him intrigued about the shy, awkward woman. A back and forth is started and before Quinn knows it, a friendship is formed.Time passes and Quinn is smitten.
There’s only one problem…
The client is his best friends little sister.
She’s off limits.
He knows better.
Staying away from one another is easier said than done.
Belle Aurora is twenty seven years old and was born in the land down
under. At an early age she fell in love with reading. Boredom one summer had her
scouring the bookshelves at home. She stumbled across Sandra Brown’s Breath of
Scandal and fell in love with romance. Having been brought up in a loud and
boisterous family of Croatian descent, she developed a natural love for
dramatics and humor. Only some years ago had she discovered a new love.
Humorous romance novels.
Kristen Ashley and R.L. Mathewson had opened a brand
new world where she could lose herself yet feel safe and at home in their
stories. Belle has been known to become a screeching banshee while anxiously
awaiting their newest titles.
Belle never thought she would write. It had never
interested her until recently. Friend-Zoned began to form and in February 2013
Belle typed the words Chapter One. And she fell in love.
With words.
With writing.
With a creative imagination she never knew she harbored.
Friend-Zoned is the
first in the Friend-Zoned series. Keep an eye out for this cheeky author.
Connor Bannon is supposed to be dead. Dishonorably discharged from the Navy SEALs, he’s spent the last two years working as a street enforcer in Brooklyn for his cousin’s crime ring. Through a twist of fate, he’s now in Chicago, working undercover to bust criminals. But when a cute little arsonist joins the team-all combat boots, tiny jean shorts, and hot-pink hair-Connor’s notorious iron control slips.
Erin “she’s getting away” O’Dea knows two things. She hates authority. And… Nope, that’s it. When she’s forced to operate on the “right” side of the law, her fear of being confined and controlled blazes to the surface. The last thing she expects is a control freak like Connor to soothe her when she needs it most. Worse, something behind the sexy ex-soldier’s eyes ignites a dangerous inferno of desire. One that invites Erin to play with fire. And one that could get them both killed…
As if her thoughts had made him appear, Connor strode into the courthouse. Her pulse started beating double time, her stomach muscles tightening. Good Lord, the man was a fucking panty dropper. She’d only been away from him for a few hours and it felt like years since she’d experienced his presence. In jeans and a fitted gray T-shirt that molded to his muscles like her hands itched to do, he personified confidence and authority. Hot, rugged male. His gaze connected with hers immediately and darkened. She thought back to that morning when he’d dressed in the early morning light, his abs flexing as he pulled the shirt over his head. His erection barely contained by his boxers. She’d never been one to beg for anything, but she’d been seconds from offering him her mouth. Pleading for the privilege of sucking him off.
Conner shook his head at her with a sexy half smile on his face, as if he could read her thoughts across the room. He stopped at the metal detector and walked through after the security guard beckoned him forward. When the woman grabbed her wand and instructed him to raise his hands in the air, something ugly reared its head deep inside her. The detector hadn’t even beeped. There was no reason for the personal service. When the woman smiled at Connor and ran a hand down her ponytail, Erin propelled herself forward, boots echoing on the polished marble.
Erin hissed as she drew even with the guard. “If you’re done feeling up my boyfriend, I’d love a turn. We were in a rush this morning.”
The guard dropped the wand, letting it dangle near her thigh. “Did you just hiss at me?”
Erin hissed again.
“Okay.” Connor stepped between them, winking down at her. “We should go. Don’t want to keep the clerk waiting.”
Appreciation spread in her belly like honey. He hadn’t chided her for her behavior or apologized to the woman on her behalf. Instead he’d given the impression they were on their way to get married, appeasing her jealousy in one fell swoop. “That’s right.” She sauntered toward the elevator. “There’s vows to be exchanged. Rings to put on fingers. Shit like that.”
She glanced behind her to find Connor staring at her ass as she walked, so she put a little swing in her hips and savored his groan. Damn. She’d definitely never had this much fun at a courthouse.
A moment later, she and Connor stepped into an empty elevator. She hit the button for the top floor even though the clerk was on the first, and leaned back against the wall, looking up at him through her eyelashes. “How was your morning, baby? Was it worth leaving me in bed, all hot and bothered for you?”
“Fuck no, it wasn’t.” He crooked a big finger at her. “Climb on up here.”
MICHEL’S REVIEW
What do you look for when picking your next book to read? Is it an alpha hero? Is it a tormented broken hero that has flaws? Is it a dirty talking man that makes your panties melt off with his words alone? Is it a hero that knows how to back up his dirty talk with hands on action? Are you looking for a sassy heroine that knows how to handle her hero? Look no further. Tessa Bailey is the go to author that always delivers all of this and so much more. Her books are sizzling hot, fantastically fun, super sexy, and romantic. They never fail to entertain and always deliver a good story.
Up In Smoke by Tessa Bailey has it’s own special blend of romance that she is so famous for writing. This time both of the leading characters are broken. Their supporting cast is a group of broken misfits that will capture your heart as much as the leading characters.
This book is loaded with sexual tension, witty dialogue, heart wrenching moments, and fuzzy warm feel goods.
A former Navy Seal with anger issues. An Enforcer. A pyromaniac escape artist that can’t stand to be touched. These two have more baggage than a cargo carrier. They don’t want to fix each other. They can’t seem to keep their hands off each other. Together these two will send the pages into scorching flames.
Don’t miss out on this explosive new release by Tessa Bailey.
Get Up In Smoke by Tessa Bailey and be ready to burn. It is one of my favorite summer scorchers.
Tessa lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and young daughter. When she isn’t writing or reading romance, Tessa enjoys a good argument and thirty-minute recipes.
Every life has a different path full of sharp turns, smooth curves, and steep drop offs.
Hollis Murphy has a plan—college, career, boyfriend, love, marriage, family. A predictable, normal life. She’s on track until an outside force causes her to crash and burn. They call it an accident, because that’s the only word they know to explain what happens to her. It helps everyone move on with their lives, except for Hollis. She holds on to the belief that she’s been targeted for a reason.
Risher Stevenson is intelligent, caring, sweet, and the hottest boy Hollis has ever laid eyes on. He fits perfectly into her original plan for a normal life. Everyone loves him.
Benton Daniels is intelligent, caring, sweet, and the bravest boy Hollis has ever met. He doesn’t fit into her life but gives it purpose and makes it extraordinary. Everyone hates him.
One is bullied. One is tormented. All are judged. How will it STOP?
I was so flustered that for a second I’d forgotten who I was. “Hollis Murphy.”
She scribbled something on a spreadsheet and handed me a packet with my name and the number two hundred ten typed out on the front sticker, which I assumed was my room number.
In a flat bored voice, she said, “Everything you need to know is in the packet. Should you have any additional questions or needs after reading the information, please ask your RA. Have a productive semester. Next!”
Clutching the envelope to my chest, my gaze shifted back down, and I walked quickly out of the office.
As I turned the corner, a loud deep woot! jerked my attention down the hall. I took one step before crashing full force into something solid and warm. Stumbling back, I dropped the envelope. Once my balance returned, my eyes focused on a gray T-shirt with cut off sleeves, stretched across broad shoulders. When I glanced down in search of my envelope, I couldn’t help but spot the narrow hips and round ass covered in black basketball shorts. As I squatted to pick up the envelope, a tanned forearm came into view. My gaze roamed up to find the arm was covered in bulging muscles.
“Oh god, I’m so . . . sor…ry,” I stammered, my cheeks heating with embarrassment.
“Here ya go,” a deep voice said.
Reaching for the envelope, my gaze inadvertently shot up to the warmest green eyes ever created. His dark brown hair was cut short on the sides, longer on top, and tousled. The perfect amount of scuff peppered his strong jawline, with deep dimples framing a sexy lopsided smile. The air was immediately sucked from my lungs. He wasn’t just hot, he was boy band hot.
A deep chuckle drifted down before I realized he had stood up and was extending his hand to me.
Oh boy! I get to touch him.
I slipped my hand into his and felt an immediate jolt of electricity. The muscles in his arm twitched. He felt it too.
“Thank you,” I said, as he helped me up.
“I’m Risher Stevenson.”
He was actually introducing himself to me.
It had become a habit not to look directly at anyone, especially a stranger. I automatically angled my head down and to the left, to hide the messed-up side of my face. But those green eyes locked me in place.
“Hollis Murphy.”
“Nice to meet you Hollis Murphy.”
“Sorry again about running into you. I need to do a better job at watching where I’m going.”
The tip of his tongue slipped between his lips before they formed into a slight smirk. Just as he was about to speak, his name came barreling down the hallway.
“Rish! Get your ass down here. We’ve got a ton of boxes to haul in.” A blond-haired guy was standing at the end of the hall.
“I gotta go finish helping my friends move in.”
I nodded.
Risher took three steps before turning back toward me. “Don’t do too good of a job.”
My eyebrows squished together in confusion.
“At watching where you’re going. I hate to think I won’t get rump bumped again.”
He winked before jogging away.
I Sasquatched those shoulders, those hips, and that ass all the way down the hall.
Robin’s Review
I really had no idea what to expect when I began reading the newest novel from Alison G. Bailey. In my opinion, the synopsis for Stop! is somewhat vague, but I always expect great things from this author. I can tell you this: if you expect a story similar to those of Bailey’s Perfect series, you are going to be surprised. Stop! is completely different from anything Bailey has previously written, and it’s way more than a typical new adult contemporary romance. The story takes place at Chambers University, and it focuses on three main characters: Hollis Murphy, Benton Daniels and Risher Stevenson.
I’ve debated on how much of this story I should share in my review, but I’ve come to realize that Stop! is one of those stories you just need to experience. The messages of this story are profound, and very thought-provoking. Bailey includes a sweet romance in this novel, but for me, the romance felt secondary to the main plot. I love reading a good romance, but Stop! is a story with plenty of substance. It’s about courage, and Bailey gives us two very courageous characters in Hollis Murphy and Benton Daniels. There is also a message about tolerance. Learning to open your mind and be tolerant of people who are different. And beauty. Finding the true definition of beauty. It’s not just physical beauty, but beauty found from within. These are all very relevant topics in today’s society, and while I was reading, I found myself considering some things about my own life. I think most readers will. Bailey gives readers a good, hard look at what it’s like to be someone who is persecuted because of their differences.
One of the first things I noticed about Stop! is the writing. Bailey’s writing is crisp. It flows. Her words engaged my interest from page one, drawing me right into the story. She kept me on my toes. I had lots of questions in my head, always wondering what would happen next. There’s a twist to the plot, and it’s one you won’t see coming. The story evolves into something you aren’t expecting. I also need to compliment the author on her character, Risher Stevenson. He’s one of my favorite book boyfriends to date. Risher is just about perfect. You ladies are going to love him! The uniqueness of the plot is what really drives this story home. It encompasses everything from labels, violence and bullying to friendship and courage. Bailey asks readers to “stretch your mind, open your heart, and expand your understanding.” This is the overall message of Stop! I’ll be adding Stop! to my list of 2015 favorites. Congratulations to author Alison G. Bailey for this beautiful 5-star novel!
Alison was born and raised in Charleston, SC. She attended Winthrop University and graduated with a major in Theater. While at school Alison began writing one-act plays, which she later produced. Her debut novel, Present Perfect, landed on Amazon’s Best Seller List and appeared on many “Best Reads of 2013” Book Blogs. The novel won Best Book at the 2014 Indie Romance Convention Awards. Her second novel, Past Imperfect, was published in February of 2014 and appeared on several best books of 2014 lists as well. Presently Perfect, the third and final book in The “Perfect” series was released in Dec 2014 to rave reviews. In March 2015 all the love, swoon, heat, and angst were combined into the Perfect Series Box Set.
Sasha Cherlin died the night she let Nick Tate walk out on her for a life of crime. Her very essence was destroyed when they broke their promise to one another.
A MAN WITH REMORSE…
Nick Tate made his choice with her future in mind. He loved Sasha enough to know that leaving her behind was the only way to keep her safe.
A PATH TO REVENGE…
Special Agent Jax Barlow understands the bond of love and he plans to use it to get justice. Nick and Sasha will do anything to rewrite their past. He’s counting on that to bring them down.
Wasted Lust is a 321 spin-off, full-length, romantic suspense filled with lies, secrets, and the power of redemption by the New York Times bestselling author, JA Huss.
I’m not a player. I know there are girls out there who do this kind of thing for a living. They scout out prospective husbands. Dress up, put on a show, try to hook one with the bait.
I have no bait. I’m cute—not sophisticated like my mom’s friend Rook, or badass like her friend Veronica, or even smart and sassy like my mom, but cute. A Smurf, they used to call me. And those ladies are the only real role models I ever had growing up. That’s it. The extent of my wily ways with men come from half-ass copy-catting people who have more game in their pinky fingers than I have in my whole body.
So I’m at a complete loss here. Because Jax insists on treating me like a woman. And I’ve spent a good number of years trying to avoid this kind of scenario. The kind that sweeps you off your feet. The kind that jumpstarts your heart and makes it hum in a way you never thought possible. The kind that makes you doubt all those pledges you made to yourself through the years.
I will never love again. I will never give my heart to a man. I will never have to endure the crushing reality that comes after the only person I ever wanted to be with practically begged me to forget about him.
I tried it, it just didn’t work. I can’t just erase my first crush. I can’t just throw away the one thing I held onto after my father died. I kept the boys at bay all during high school. I didn’t even lose my virginity until my first year of college. Ford made sure of that. The memory of his crazy overprotective antics as I grew up make me smile.
So I don’t have much experience.
But Jax is a player, I can see that now. He’s got me wound up tight. My head is pounding with the possibilities he comes with.
Sex being one of them. I have not had sex in over two years. And I’m not one of those girls who go for a toy at the first hint of a dry spell. After two years though, I’m considering that option.
But now Jax is here. Kissing me. Making my whole body tingle. Awakening the desire I’ve pent up for so long.
“Are you afraid of planes, Sasha?”
I look over at Jax. “What?”
“Does landing bother you?”
“No,” I say, confused. “Why?”
“You’re squeezing my hand so hard, you might be cutting off my circulation.”
Excerpt 2
JAX
Nick is an idiot.
But I can’t fault him for it. If he had realized Sasha’s true worth—aside from killing and secret information—she’d still be his. She’d probably be dead because of it too.
My hatred for him dims a little. I will never like that man. Ever. But he left Sasha for a reason, I think. He left her because she was too good for him. She was pure and he was corrupt. I have a feeling that leaving her behind was as purposeful a move as any of the others he’s made throughout the years.
But why?
Does he love her? Is she the missing woman? She can’t be. Sasha freely admits she has not heard from or talked to him in a decade and I believe her.
So who is the woman who lured him back to the States six years ago? Sasha would’ve been just graduating high school. Her passport shows she was in New Zealand with her family that summer after graduation. So if he didn’t come to see her, then who?
This mystery has plagued me for years. Why does one of the FBI’s most wanted criminals leave Central America and come back to the US when he’s got a powerful position in a Honduran gang to protect him at home?
Why risk it?
For the job?
No. It can’t be that simple. Nothing about this guy is simple.
Did he lie to Sasha? Was he really her promise? It’s convenient that her father and his, the only two men who could substantiate the claim he made, are both dead.
I ponder this until we reach the airport. And by that time, Sasha is sleeping so deeply, she doesn’t even wake up when I pick her up in my arms and walk her up the stairs. I take her to the back of the plane and place her on the bed. “Sasha,” I whisper softly in her ear.
“Hmmm?” she moans back.
“Let’s take off your coat.”
“Mmmm.” She moves just enough for me to get her coat off, and then she turns over and falls back asleep with her hands bunching the pillow up to her face.
I stand there and smile down at her. Just smile. She’s so fucking adorable. And I’m starting to regret that rash decision to have sex with her in the car. You only get one first time. This one was pretty good as far as first times go. But still… I should’ve waited. Made it more romantic and less primal.
I lean down and kiss her on the head and then I walk out, leaving the lights off so she can get some rest. I go all the way up front to the business end of the plane and take a seat at the table.
“Drink, sir?” Essie asks.
“Sure. Brandy, if you’ve got it. You the only one on staff tonight?”
“No, the other girls are chatting in the galley. But if you want them, I can get them.”
“No, let them chat. I’ve got everything I need and I can use the quiet time.”
“Very good, sir,” she says, placing a snifter with two fingers of brandy in front of me on the table. “Just call if you need anything.”
I need a lot of things. But nothing Essie can help with. So I won’t be calling for her. I just drink my brandy and think about Sasha. I think about picking her up again and carrying her to the car that will be waiting for us when we land. I hope she doesn’t wake up.
Mostly because I want to carry her again. I loved that feeling. Her soft body against my hard one. But also because I’m not taking her home. And when she figures that out, she’s gonna be pissed.
Just some general info about this book and how it relates to the rest of my books:
This is a story about Sasha Cherlin who appears in Slack, Come, Come Back, Coming For You, 321 (unnamed at the very end), and Meet Me In The Dark. It CAN be read as a standalone, but readers should be aware that this book is meant to be “The End” for Sasha and her life in the Company. Wasted Lust occurs ten years after Coming For You, two years after Meet Me In The Dark and AT THE SAME TIME as 321, so it is a parallel book, and although there are no real spoilers for 321 (I was very careful to avoid them) the plots converge in the middle of Wasted Lust. I would consider this to be a traditional romantic suspense and it is not dark.
_______________________________________________
Author Bio:
J. A. Huss likes to write new adult books that make you think and keep you guessing. Her favorite genre to read is space opera, but since practically no one reads those books, she writes new adult science fiction, paranormal romance, contemporary romance, urban fantasy, and books about Junco (who refuses to be saddled with a label).
She has an undergraduate degree in horses, (yes, really–Thank you, Colorado State University) and a master’s degree in forensic toxicology from the University of Florida. She used to have a job driving around Colorado doing pretty much nothing but shooting the breeze with farmers, but now she just writes, runs the New Adult Addiction and Clean Teen Reads Book Blogs, and runs an online science classroom for homeschoolers.
Connor Bannon is supposed to be dead. Dishonorably discharged from the Navy SEALs, he’s spent the last two years working as a street enforcer in Brooklyn for his cousin’s crime ring. Through a twist of fate, he’s now in Chicago, working undercover to bust criminals. But when a cute little arsonist joins the team-all combat boots, tiny jean shorts, and hot-pink hair-Connor’s notorious iron control slips.
Erin “she’s getting away” O’Dea knows two things. She hates authority. And… Nope, that’s it. When she’s forced to operate on the “right” side of the law, her fear of being confined and controlled blazes to the surface. The last thing she expects is a control freak like Connor to soothe her when she needs it most. Worse, something behind the sexy ex-soldier’s eyes ignites a dangerous inferno of desire. One that invites Erin to play with fire. And one that could get them both killed…
As if her thoughts had made him appear, Connor strode into the courthouse. Her pulse started beating double time, her stomach muscles tightening. Good Lord, the man was a fucking panty dropper. She’d only been away from him for a few hours and it felt like years since she’d experienced his presence. In jeans and a fitted gray T-shirt that molded to his muscles like her hands itched to do, he personified confidence and authority. Hot, rugged male. His gaze connected with hers immediately and darkened. She thought back to that morning when he’d dressed in the early morning light, his abs flexing as he pulled the shirt over his head. His erection barely contained by his boxers. She’d never been one to beg for anything, but she’d been seconds from offering him her mouth. Pleading for the privilege of sucking him off.
Conner shook his head at her with a sexy half smile on his face, as if he could read her thoughts across the room. He stopped at the metal detector and walked through after the security guard beckoned him forward. When the woman grabbed her wand and instructed him to raise his hands in the air, something ugly reared its head deep inside her. The detector hadn’t even beeped. There was no reason for the personal service. When the woman smiled at Connor and ran a hand down her ponytail, Erin propelled herself forward, boots echoing on the polished marble.
Erin hissed as she drew even with the guard. “If you’re done feeling up my boyfriend, I’d love a turn. We were in a rush this morning.”
The guard dropped the wand, letting it dangle near her thigh. “Did you just hiss at me?”
Erin hissed again.
“Okay.” Connor stepped between them, winking down at her. “We should go. Don’t want to keep the clerk waiting.”
Appreciation spread in her belly like honey. He hadn’t chided her for her behavior or apologized to the woman on her behalf. Instead he’d given the impression they were on their way to get married, appeasing her jealousy in one fell swoop. “That’s right.” She sauntered toward the elevator. “There’s vows to be exchanged. Rings to put on fingers. Shit like that.”
She glanced behind her to find Connor staring at her ass as she walked, so she put a little swing in her hips and savored his groan. Damn. She’d definitely never had this much fun at a courthouse.
A moment later, she and Connor stepped into an empty elevator. She hit the button for the top floor even though the clerk was on the first, and leaned back against the wall, looking up at him through her eyelashes. “How was your morning, baby? Was it worth leaving me in bed, all hot and bothered for you?”
“Fuck no, it wasn’t.” He crooked a big finger at her. “Climb on up here.”
MICHEL’S REVIEW
What do you look for when picking your next book to read? Is it an alpha hero? Is it a tormented broken hero that has flaws? Is it a dirty talking man that makes your panties melt off with his words alone? Is it a hero that knows how to back up his dirty talk with hands on action? Are you looking for a sassy heroine that knows how to handle her hero? Look no further. Tessa Bailey is the go to author that always delivers all of this and so much more. Her books are sizzling hot, fantastically fun, super sexy, and romantic. They never fail to entertain and always deliver a good story.
Up In Smoke by Tessa Bailey has it’s own special blend of romance that she is so famous for writing. This time both of the leading characters are broken. Their supporting cast is a group of broken misfits that will capture your heart as much as the leading characters.
This book is loaded with sexual tension, witty dialogue, heart wrenching moments, and fuzzy warm feel goods.
A former Navy Seal with anger issues. An Enforcer. A pyromaniac escape artist that can’t stand to be touched. These two have more baggage than a cargo carrier. They don’t want to fix each other. They can’t seem to keep their hands off each other. Together these two will send the pages into scorching flames.
Don’t miss out on this explosive new release by Tessa Bailey.
Get Up In Smoke by Tessa Bailey and be ready to burn. It is one of my favorite summer scorchers.
Tessa lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and young daughter. When she isn’t writing or reading romance, Tessa enjoys a good argument and thirty-minute recipes.
Re-belle-ious, free-spirited Lauren Renwick has decided it’s time to trade her wings for roots. That means no more bad boys, no more foolish choices. Yet when she’s stood up on New Year’s Eve, her resolution to stick to her Mama’s Rules for Dating weakens. Especially when she spots sex-in-leather-and-tattoos, Jackson Sullivan.
One look at Lauren, and Jackson is hell-bent on getting her on the back of his Harley and riding straight for his bed. Their night together is an erotic rush that has a new word popping up on his horizon—forever.
Lauren tries to convince herself he’s just one last fling to get bad boys out of her system, yet she finds herself falling hard and fast for a man with a stalker ex and a meddling Irish family. Plus, he has zero chance of passing her uptight parents’ inspection.
Jackson has Lauren’s back, but if she wants all of his heart, she’ll have to meet him halfway—by ditching rules that hold her prisoner, and learning to stand up for what she really wants.
Lauren Renwick’s mother and friends, a group of good southern women, have decreed that it is time for Lauren to settle down. She needs to build a solid life, a permanent home, a steady job, and find a good man that is husband material. They have decided that Lauren is going about things the wrong way. They are going to give her guidance by giving her a set of rules that every good southern woman should live by. Lauren thinks they may have something there that might work. She is getting tired of the single life and wants to put down some roots. When she starts living by the rules, life begins to go very well for her until… her supposedly good man dumps her on New Years Eve. Now it’s time to push the rules aside to get thoroughly smashed. She needs a good break up drunk. When she ends up in a biker bar and meets the sexy bar owner Jackson Sullivan things are looking good. She may have to toss a few other rules out the window. After all there is nothing like a one night stand with a sexy stranger to help heal a broken heart.
The morning after is quite a different story. Suddenly she has guilt about breaking the rules. Jackson has different ideas about their one night stand. He definitely wants more. He’s looking for a good woman to share his life with. He doesn’t care about the rules. He doesn’t care that they met and slept together within moments. He’s going to prove that he is more of a man than what he appears to be. He is going to make his own set of rules.
Rule Breaker was a delightful romance. The writing style and character personalities reminded me of some books by Kristen Ashley and Aurora Rose Reynolds with the hot alpha hero that loves completely. I finished this book with a big smile and a warm fuzzy feeling.
This book wasn’t deep or angsty. It was a delightful romance.
———————————————————————————————–
A woman with the heart of a revolutionary,
The mind of a pragmatist,
And the inappropriate humor of your tipsy BFF…
Born in California and raised in South Florida, I’ve moved around like a gypsy with a bounty on my head ever since. Along the way, I’ve worked as a community organizer, a professional matchmaker, an art teacher, a popular blogger, and a crisis counselor (to name a few). All the while, longing to have the guts and follow-through to do what I really wanted: to write and become a published author. That wish has finally come true and I am tickled pink with glitter over this good piece of fortune.
What else? Hmm…I love indie, lo-fi, complaint rock played on vinyl, wearing black because it’s slimming, the theater, well-informed optimism, happy endings (both kinds),and making those close to me laugh ’til they snort. I’m a self-admitted change junkie, loving new experiences and places, but have now happily settled in the cutest lil’ town, Vienna, Virginia. I totally love hearing from readers so stalk me via social media or email me at HarperKincaid26@gmail.com!
Liam Davis is a man without a past. That’s what he wants everyone to believe, anyway. Hell-bent on erasing any memories of his previous life, he knows that starting over is all he can do. Hiding who he is, where he’s from, why he’s running, and especially who he’s left behind, Liam has run away from everything he’s ever known. His plan works perfectly until one day when Parker Ryan threatens to expose his carefully concealed world.
Parker Ryan is a man without a future. Sure, he’s a partner in one of New York’s most prestigious law firms, but he’ll never be more than a failure in the eyes of his boss, his father. Rather than break away from his father’s standards, he finds himself mindlessly pursuing them, in turn sacrificing anything that would actually make him happy.
When Liam’s and Parker’s lives collide, the ugly truth about who they really are, and who they hope to become reveals itself when they least expect it. As both of their lives become wrecked beyond all belief, they’ll learn how to rely on each other in their journey to become Repaired.
When I looked down at my watch, I realized it was still early enough to catch the usual crowd down at Murray’s. Parker’s face lit up at the suggestion, probably because the thought of a pool game and a few beers was a hell of a lot more appealing than being schooled in painting.
When we pulled into the parking lot, I saw Gabe’s car parked in its usual spot. Tipping my head at the black sedan, I said, “Windows are all steamed up. Wonder who he’s got in there.” Parker looked to where Gabe was parked and laughed.
“It’s Zan,” he said with an odd air of certainty.
“How do you know?” Twisting in my seat, I unclicked the belt. “You can’t possibly see in there.”
“The blue car is his. Besides, I may have thrown them together the night I went looking for you.”
As we walked to the entrance, the car doors swung open. Gabe exited first, busied with tucking his shirt back in. We stopped just in time to catch Zan stepping out the other door, refastening his jeans. “Well, well, well,” I joked. “Looks like someone was having a little fun.”
Gabe slammed his door and walked to the other side where Zan stood, shocked into silence. He reached down and took Zan’s hand in his own. “Yeah, and based on the smug-ass look on your faces, I’d say you two were having fun not all that long ago.”
“You think we can stop talking about our collective sex lives long enough to grab a beer?” Zan butted in, desperate to change the conversation.
Once inside, we set up a game of pool and laughed over a few pitchers of beers. Sitting to the side of the game, I watched as Gabe and Parker laughed together, ribbing on each other pretty good. It was impossible not to be happy for Gabe when I caught him stealing casual touches from Zan. Whatever it was that was brewing between the two of them, it looked good on them.
“I think I’m done handling big sticks for the night,” Parker declared jokingly as he placed his pool cue on the table. “Until later of course.” The drinks had made his lips a touch looser and out came the joker. It was times like this when the parts of Parker’s character, which he’d tried to hide for so long, came out to play.
Waggling an eyebrow at me, he bumped my shoulder with his, nearly toppling me over. “Hit your limits already?” Keeping my voice low, I whispered my question to Parker as we walked over to a table. Zan and Gabe looked as if they were lost in a similar private conversation as they walked over to the bar to order another round of drinks.
Shrugging, his answer was of the simplest kind. “Just celebrating I guess.” Before we slid into our seats, he promised he’d slow down, not wanting to be a burden on me.
Grabbing his shoulders, I made sure to look deep into his sapphire blue eyes. “I’m never burdened by you. Ever. If anything, I’m better because of you.”
“Thank you,” he whispered, pressing a kiss to my cheek. “And I want to be better for you.”
Melissa Collins has always been a book worm. Studying Literature in college ensured that her nose was always stuck in a book. She followed her passion for reading to the most logical career choice: English teacher. Her hope was to share her passion for reading and the escapism of books to her students. Having spent more than a decade in front of a classroom, she can easily say that it’s been a dream.
Her passion for writing didn’t start until more recently. When she was home on maternity leave in early 2012, she read her first romance novel and her head filled with the passion, angst and laughter of the characters who she read about it. It wasn’t long before characters of her own took shape in her mind. Their lives took over Melissa’s brain and The Love Series was born.
The story where a girl follows the only route to survive, the path of prostitution. What she didn’t know was that road led to her worst nightmare.
Synopsis
In my world, there is no such thing as love. It is just a lie we whisper into our client’s ear. Love is foreign and hazardous. What I did not expect was to bare my soul to a man who is as egotistical as he is dangerous.
His name is Landon. Despite his blackened soul, he tried to save me, but what he didn’t expect was my torturous fate to catch up with me.
To your father, I’m the escort.
To your mother, I’m the whore.
To the legal system, I’m the prostitute.
In the end, I’m just the other woman.
I have no idea if I will continue to survive, if I will ever find my path aside from the gritty streets I know so well. There is a good chance I will wind up in the ditch like most women in my position. Surrendering to my fate is the only choice I have. I must relinquish it all.
Following Jayden across the way, I skim the crowd at the café and land on a pair of handsome eyes. So handsome, I stop walking.
Sitting at a table full of sexy men is a short, blond-haired guy, his face hard and chiseled. My God, his arms are pumped with muscle as his hands flex around a brown football. My core blossoms with incredible need as I eye his toned arms, and what I assume is a matching hard chest beneath his jersey.
“Charlie, let’s go!”Jayden yells, making me realize I’ve been standing here like an idiot, staring at a sexy stranger in a café. The guy smirks at me and tosses the football in the air, breaking eye contact.
I tuck my hair behind my ear, giving a small smile in return before walking forward. I suddenly crash into something, the impact throwing me back on my ass hard.
“Shit!”I shout with pain.
“Fuck!”roars a male voice standing above me. My eyes jolt upward to find a broad-shouldered man in a black suit, holding a broken plastic cup in one hand with coffee spilled all down his front. My stomach tangles into a bundle of tight knots, and my hands tremble from the strength and power this man radiates. Oh, shit.
“I am so sorry!”I stand up and start frantically brushing at the man’s very expensive-looking suit. My God, it’s like rubbing a rock. His body is so toned and strong beneath my palms, which isn’t helping me get a grip on myself. My eyes skirt up his arms, finding the fabric stretched tight around his biceps and causing me to swallow the lump forming in my throat. The knots in my stomach crawl into a fit of butterflies, and my heart races. He’s handsome—intimidating, really. The way his toned body and squared shoulders take up the space takes my breath away. His jaw is chiseled to perfection with scruff claiming it perfectly. I bite my bottom lip to keep from moaning.
“It’s fine, really,”he states, his voice deep as he grabs my wrists to stop me from slapping at his stained shirt pathetically. My body sparks with electricity where he grips me firmly. My mouth parts and my breathing shallows as I slowly trail my eyes from his hold on my wrist to his eyes. They’re green with little brown flecks thrown around them. They’re captivating. His jawline is strong and defined, his nose broad, and his dark hair is smoothed back with just a trail hanging loosely out of place on the front of his forehead from our sudden run-in. He’s fucking gorgeous, and I can’t look away.
“Are you all right?”he questions, raising an eyebrow. His voice is low and rough, making my eyes focus on his mouth.
“I-”I stutter, completely lost in the thought of his luscious lips on mine. These lips are not like any belonging to the guys at my high school, that’s for sure. When you look at them, his lips look like they’re made to make love to a woman’s body. The thoughts of the glorious pleasure they could bring make my cheeks warm, my chest ache.
“Charlie, let’s go!”Jayden hollers, catching mine and Sexy Man In a Suit’s attention.
“That your friend?”he asks, his lips that hold the perfect cupid’s bow turn into a slight smirk.
I open my mouth to speak but a wild hiccup noise escapes instead, caused from the wild beat of my heart against my chest. I close my eyes, humiliated.
He chuckles, releasing his hold of my wrists. The way he laughs causes my skin to rise with goose bumps.
“I gotta go,”I whisper nervously. I look down and stride quickly toward Jayden, praying I don’t bump into any more hot men on the way.
“Lord, give me strength. Vegas is already becoming a bad influence,”I mutter, catching up with Jayden.
MICHEL’S REVIEW
When I first read the blurb for Relinquish by M. N. Forgy, i was intrigued. This book sounded unique and on the cutting edge. I absolutely love a book with grit, darkness, and complicated characters. I did enjoy reading Relinquish but it did not quite reach my expectations I had built up in my mind.
Readers are first introduced to Charlie as a young child and then brought to present day. Charlie experienced a violent life changing event as a child which led her to spending the rest of her youth in the foster care system. Charlie has blocked the traumatic experience and has moved forward in her life one day at a time. She hasn’t known much kindness or caring. At the same time she hasn’t suffered from too much cruelty. Life in the foster care system is what it is. On her eighteenth birthday she is ready to leave her last and final foster care home. She has no intentions on looking back. As she is leaving, one of the other girls in the foster home, a year younger than Charlie, decides to go with her. In a sense they are on the run but nobody is really looking for them. They end up in Vegas.
Both girls are young and a bit naive . They may have had a tough life but they have not really lived life in the streets. What starts out as an adventure in starting their new lives quickly turns into a mess. With very little money they are struggling to survive. When Charlie’s new boyfriend starts giving her money she doesn’t realize he is giving her payment for services rendered. Once the realization hits and Charlie is put in a predicament that she didn’t see coming, she is at the start of her new profession.
Landon rescues Charlie from the dangerous predicament that she found herself in. He is not necessarily a good guy. He has his agenda where Charlie is concerned. He is also harboring some dangerous secrets. What starts as a business relationship between Charlie and Landon turns into something more.
Secrets will be revealed that will connect Landon and Charlie in the past as well as the present. It will be shocking and will keep the reader glued to the pages.
The plot was great and the pacing of the story was good. I would of liked to of seen a little more grit and darkness to the story that I know M. N. Forgy is capable of delivering.
M.N. Forgy was raised in Missouri where she still lives with her family. She’s a soccer mom by day and a saucy writer by night. M.N. Forgy started writing at a young age but never took it seriously until years later, as a stay-at-home mom, she opened her laptop and started writing again. As a role model for her children, she felt she couldn’t live with the “what if” anymore and finally took a chance on her character’s story. So, with her glass of wine in hand and a stray Barbie sharing her seat, she continues to create and please her fans.
I’m Felicity Stone, a twenty-five-year-old with my whole life ahead of me. Well, until recently.
I didn’t do it. Why would they think I did? Why would I want my twin brother dead? Why is everyone looking at me like I’m a criminal?
Well, everyone except him… Hayes Peyton, the charmingly beautiful stranger I met in the park at midnight—a totally legitimate place to meet the man of my dreams. Plus, he knows I’m innocent.
Believing him is easy. So very easy. Maybe too easy?
But when you hear things like: ‘All good is laced with some bad, and everything you think is the truth—is nothing more than a blatant lie,’ it makes you question reality.
In Shari J. Ryan’s latest Romantic Suspense, Red Nights, you wonder how dark your world can get before all you see is red.
“Great night for a walk.” I can hardly hear him over the rain, but his words don’t quite matter. I’ve been waiting to kiss him since the moment I saw him sitting in a booth at the restaurant tonight.
First kisses are always nerve-wracking and full of surprise, but second kisses are full of anticipation thanks to what I already know, what I’ve already had a taste of. “I really like you,” he says, loud enough to drown out the heavy rainfall.
I can’t invite him in…is that why he’s stalling? I point upstairs. “Aspen, my friend I’m crashing with, would ask you a million questions if you came up. I—”
“Oh, no. No. I wasn’t waiting for an invitation. I have a ‘seven date’ rule anyway.” I can see him fighting the urge to smile, but he’s losing that battle.
“’Seven date’ rule?” I laugh.
“Yeah, it’s dumb.” He runs a palm down the side of his face. “Because I’m trying to figure out how I’m going to make it that long.” He leans in, stealing a quick kiss. But I feel cheated. I want more.
“How do you know we’ll last seven dates?” I ask.
“Good point. I probably won’t be able to put up with you for that long.” I know he’s teasing. But ugh. Damn him and that smile.
I throw my arms around his neck and crash my lips into his. His body tightens, maybe from surprise, but it takes less than a second for him to relax. He strips me of my control, pushing me up against the brick wall, his body heavy against mine. Even with the rain sloshing between us, his hands find my cheeks. His tongue sweeps across my lips.
I’ve changed my mind.
I’ll bring him upstairs.
I don’t give a shit what Aspen does. I want him. I need him to keep making me forget.
“Come up,” I say in almost nothing but a breathless whisper.
He bites down on his bottom lip, appears to think about my offer, then shakes his head in this seductive slow motion, making this moment painfully enjoyable. “Not tonight,” he says, placing a small kiss on the tip of my nose. His hand is clutched around my waist and everything within me hurts and aches for him. “Good-night, Blondie-locks.” He turns and leaves in the rain, and I watch him go.
It has been a good night. A very good night, actually.
And it all ends when I get upstairs…
MICHEL’S REVIEW
Red Nights by Shari J. Ryan was one of those kind of books that draws the reader in immediately. By the third or fourth page the reader is hooked. I read this book in one sitting and thoroughly enjoyed it. It had intrigue, mystery , suspense, and romance. This book was not particularly explicit. The romance was more on the milder side. The mystery and intrigue was more of the focus of the story. Shari delivered a book that kept me on the edge of my seat. Some parts gave me chills and creeped me out.
Felicity Stone’s life is a mess. Her life literally went up in flames. One moment she was living a charmed life, the next moment she was mourning the death of her brother. A death that was meant for her. She feels like she caused the fire that took her brother’s life and is having difficulties moving past it.
As she tries to move forward revelations are made that make her take two steps back. When she meets a sexy stranger at the park in the middle of the night things begin to change. She is starting to find a reason to move forward.
Heyes Peyton is not all that he seems to be. He has his own demons that have forced him to resign as a detective. He is now working the private sector. When he becomes involved with Felicity it becomes clear that there is more to the story than a tragic accident. It could be more than a case of arson. It could be premeditated murder.
As the case unravels and revelations are made it is becoming clear that Felicity is in deep danger. Heyes may not be able to protect her.
Red Nights is a thrilling suspense that I highly recommend.
Shari J. Ryan is an Amazon Top 100 Bestselling author, a Barnes & Noble Top 10 Bestselling author, and an iBookstore #1 Bestselling author. She hails from Central Massachusetts where she lives with her husband and two lively little boys. Shari has always had an active imagination and enjoys losing herself in the fictional worlds she creates. When Shari isn’t writing, she can usually be found cleaning toys up off the floor.
That’s all I did. A few too many glasses of wine with my best friend and the bitch convinced me to go on one of those dating websites.
A one-night stand.
A booty call.
And you know what? It.was.amazing.
I spent all night in a sexy stranger’s arms, hot and sweaty, until it was time to sneak out and do the walk of shame back to my apartment.
I never thought I’d see sexy stranger again, and I was totally fine with that – until my mother’s wedding.
She’s getting remarried, see. And sexy stranger just happens to be my new stepbrother.
All the wine in the world isn’t going to make this better.
Excerpt
He doesn’t let me finish. He lets go of my wrist and grabs my hips, lifting me up onto the bathroom counter. My breath catches in my throat as my shoulders collide with the mirror. He’s kissing my neck, his hands all over me, and I wrap my legs around his torso and run my hands through his hair.
“I don’t want to be doing this,” I gasp, but we both know that’s not true. And he’s not technically my stepbrother yet.
Michel’s Review
Debut Release of the new serial romance by Scarlett Ward is going to appeal to readers that love the forbidden romance. I had the pleasure of receiving ARC copies of all four installments. I was able to read these installments back to back without interruption. This kind of story is very hard to review in each installment, therefore, I am going to give my overall thoughts of the serial as a whole and then lightly break down each installment.
Emma is getting over a bad relationship where she caught her long time boyfriend cheating. She has trust issues and is gun shy about getting back into the dating world. After spending six months single, her roommate encourages her to join an online dating site. That is where she hooks up with Jai.
One wild night of passion leads to more than an awkward morning after. It ends with a viscous bang.
The two will meet up again when they attend their parents pre wedding dinner. This situation goes from awkward to heated in the upcoming wedding celebrations. They can’t keep their hands off of each other. They both fight, misunderstand the other’s intentions, and struggle to figure out how to fit in their new family dynamics.
Each installment ends on a light cliffhanger.
I think this serial should of been one novel. The cliffhangers were not enough to keep the reader dying for more. I found flaws in the family relationships and dynamics that just did not connect leading characters and secondary characters. There was not enough of a build up of sexual tension to validate the romance between the leading characters. It was more of a sex fest in my opinion.
Further more the character development was weak. It was very hard to connect with the characters and understand their drive.
Some may say that it is impossible to develop more when the story is delivered in novella length installments. I say no it is not because I have read so many of these type of serials that leave me aching for more.
I really had high hopes for this serial. Sadly it did not do it for me as a reader.
**************
Part 1- 3 Stars
Part one covers the meeting between Emma and Jai. It covers their one night stand and disastrous morning after.
This was a good introduction that left me intrigued and curious about what happens next.
Part 2 – 2 Stars
The leading characters, Emma and Jai , meet up once again at their parents pre wedding dinner. They begin hackling each other but at the same time can’t keep their hands off one another.
The reader also gets an introduction to the secondary characters in the story. We meet the family members. I can honestly say I really struggled with the family dynamics that were going on. It felt more like these two were with acquaintances rather than their parents. It was very odd.
Part 3 – 2 Stars
This installment takes the family to the lake house. They have a few days before the wedding to bond before the other guests arrive.
What happens in this installment is like two children in the sandbox fighting over the same toy. These two bicker and irritate the crap out of each other. They still can’t keep their hands off each other. I found these two spent more time sneaking around having sex. I never felt the chemistry between the two. I also never had a grasp on who they were as individuals as well as a couple. Their POV focused more on the sexual relationship rather than the mental relationship.
Once the wedding takes place all hell breaks loose between the two. Assumptions and misunderstandings force Emma to disappear. That disappearance was down right weird and out of the blue.
Part 4- 2 Stars
The conclusion to the story. The reader finds out why Emma disappeared. Which was interesting and believable. But what happens after that was predictable. Emma and Jai do find their happy ending.
Series Reading Order
Part Two
Releasing June 25th
Part Three
Releasing July 3rd
Part Four
Releasing July 10th
Scarlett Ward lives in Los Angeles, California and is releasing her first series June 2015.
Saucy Southern Readers 